Single-parent poverty

The FRED Blog has used county-level data to show where poverty is more prevalent in the US. Today, we use FRED's recent addition of Census data to discuss the types of families more likely to experience poverty.

The FRED graph above shows the percent of families living below the poverty threshold, sorted into three categories, from lowest poverty to highest poverty: married-couple families (blue line), single-parent families with a male householder (red line), and single-parent families with a female householder (green line).

The data show stark differences in the poverty status of US families. Single-parent households can be between 3 and 6 times more likely to experience poverty than households where both parents are present. This can be explained by the potential ability of married-couple families to combine their two incomes and share childcare responsibilities, which are a handicap to steady participation in the labor market.

The graph also shows clear gender differences among single-parent households living below the poverty threshold. Female single parents are 2 times more likely to experience poverty than male single parents. This can be explained by gender gaps in labor force participation rates, occupations and income, and sharing of childcare responsibilities.

To learn more about this topic, read the US Census report "Poverty in the United States: 2022" by Emily A. Shrider and John Creamer.

How this graph was created: Search FRED for and select "Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: Married-Couple Families With Children Under 18 Years, Below Poverty Threshold." From the "Edit Graph" panel, use the "Add Line" tab to search for and select "Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: Families With a Male Householder, No Spouse Present, With Children Under 18 Years, Below Poverty Threshold." Repeat the last step to add "Poverty Status of Families by Type of Family: Families With a Female Householder, No Spouse Present, With Children Under 18 Years, Below Poverty Threshold."

Suggested by Diego Mendez-Carbajo.